Our Bund-to-PVG trip took about 35 minutes
We left Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund by DiDi at 8:57 a.m., reached the Longyang Road Maglev station around 9:12, boarded the 9:20 train, and arrived at Pudong Airport at 9:27. Walking onward to Terminal 2 took a few more minutes.
That was an unusually smooth weekday journey—not a guaranteed transfer time. Traffic, ride-hailing pickup, station navigation, ticketing, security screening, missed departures, and the walk to your airline counter can add substantial time.
| Train route | Longyang Road ↔ Pudong International Airport |
|---|---|
| Train time | About 8 minutes for the 30 km route |
| Standard one-way fare | ¥50 |
| Discounted one-way fare | ¥40 with qualifying same-day airline-ticket proof |
| Our total ground cost | ¥25 DiDi + ¥40 Maglev = ¥65 |
The easiest Longyang Road route with luggage
In your ride-hailing app, choose the Longyang Road Maglev station or Maglev terminal—not merely Longyang Road Metro Station. The rail complex is large, and the wrong drop-off can leave you dragging bags through extra corridors.
- Show the driver the Maglev destination in the app and verify the pin before departure.
- At the station, follow signs for Maglev / 磁浮, not only Metro.
- Use the elevator when carrying large bags; do not take an improvised curb or stair route.
- Complete the station security screening before approaching the platform.
- Check the overhead destination display and board the airport-bound train.
We used a route past a McDonald’s sign to find the elevator, but retail signs and access paths can change. Follow permanent Maglev and accessibility signs first. Wheelchair users should ask the driver for the accessible drop-off and station staff for the step-free route rather than copying our exact curbside approach.
Tickets, transit cards, and contactless payment
The official ordinary fare is currently ¥50 one way or ¥80 round trip. The Maglev operator lists a ¥40 same-day airline-ticket fare; show an eligible boarding pass or itinerary at the staffed counter. We paid ¥40 using a Shanghai Public Transportation Card during this trip.
For speed, Shanghai now allows compatible contactless Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, UnionPay, and supported mobile wallets at Maglev gates. This is convenient for international visitors, but a direct bank-card tap may charge the standard fare rather than applying a separate airline-ticket discount. Ask at the counter if saving ¥10 matters.
You can also buy a ticket or use supported Shanghai transport cards and QR codes. Keep enough time for the counter or app setup if your preferred method fails.
Do not plan around a remembered departure time
The airport’s current transport page lists Longyang Road–PVG service from approximately 6:45 a.m. to 9:40 p.m.; the latest official schedule should be treated as the authority. Frequency varies by time of day, and published timetables can change.
Doors may close before the displayed departure, so arriving at the platform at the last second is not a plan. We would aim to be inside the station at least 10–15 minutes before the intended train, with more time if buying tickets, unfamiliar with the station, traveling with children, or carrying several bags.
The Maglev’s speed does not replace a normal airport buffer. Work backward from your airline’s check-in and bag-drop deadline, then add station transfer, the train interval, the walk to your terminal, security, immigration, and disruption margin. Our airport-arrival framework can help.
When the Maglev makes sense—and when it does not
Choose it when: you can reach Longyang Road easily, road traffic looks uncertain, you are within operating hours, and your group can manage a transfer with its luggage.
Consider a direct taxi or DiDi when: you have multiple travelers and many bags, mobility needs, a very early or late flight, or a hotel far from Longyang Road. Door-to-door transport may be simpler even if the road portion is less predictable.
Consider Metro Line 2 when: price matters more than time. Consider the Airport Link Line when: traveling between the Hongqiao transport hub and Pudong; it serves a different use case from the Longyang Road Maglev.
Arriving at Pudong Airport
The airport Maglev station sits between the terminal areas. Follow signs to T1 or T2 and confirm the terminal in your airline app—do not infer it only from the carrier name. Allow time for the indoor walk, elevator or escalator, and the correct check-in zone.
On our trip, the transfer delivered exactly what we wanted: a predictable high-speed middle segment, easy luggage handling once inside the station, and far less time exposed to road traffic. It is one of Shanghai’s most useful airport shortcuts when the first and last mile fit your itinerary.
This firsthand guide reflects one journey. Fares, discounts, payment methods, schedules, station entrances, elevators, security procedures, airline terminals, check-in deadlines, traffic, and accessibility routes change. Verify current details with Shanghai Maglev, Pudong Airport, your airline, and local navigation apps.